10 QUESTIONS FOR NIKOS DIAMANTOPOULOS

Nikos where are you from?
I was born in a small town called Egio. The last 20 years I live in Athens.

When or why did you choose to become a dj?Late 80s, I was working as a teacher in Yamaha music school but my need to express myself was not completed. Having already a pretty big record collection, instead of spending my free time djing at home, I thought of giving it a try professionally. It was the time that house scene was born and I became a fan from the very first tune.

You do top re-mixes, but you also produce new stuff: where do you express more yourself?Both ways. In my remixes, I use the basic idea from the original but I work on it under a different prospect and at the end it is like I compose a new track.

You have released for us a new single Marimba & Drums & a great Remix of « Rescue me » by Tee Jay Walton that will be released soon : we think this is one of the best remix we have ever heard : what has inspired you?Thank you! Both tracks give a sense of summer and summer in Greece is an inspiration itself!

Where are you playing more ?I am playing mainly all over Greece. My gigs abroad are not so many yet but I make my moves for a stronger presence soon.

This year has been probably the worst in the Greek economy : but despite it we know it was a great year for you, how did you do it ?
My country is facing a very difficult financial crisis as a part of a global crisis and I wish for the best. For me, the last 5 years are really creative and efficient and I think this is a cause of hard work in combination with the fact that I am very consistent on the music I create and the music I play. I do not follow every music flow and this is something that people like and support.

The most beautiful woman is :My woman!

You are one of the few Greek house music producers known internationally :what’s the reason why there are not a lot of greek producers in the music scene ?Electronic music is still an infant in Greece. I am one of the lucky ones who got involved with it very soon. For the last 5-6 years many new house producers have appeared and I am sure some of them will be known soon. After all, Ilias Tzikas, Dousk, G. Pal, Alex Dimou, Dj Angelo, Thodoris Triantafyllou, H@K, Cj Jeff, Chris Deepak, Mihalis Safras are some of the greek names who live in Greece, but with a strong international presence. You see, we are not so few compared to our population..:-)

What do you have in the pipeline ?I have multiple projects running, originals and remixes. One of my priorities this year is to build my profile abroad.

If you would win a one year trip where would you go ?Wherever I will be able to find beautiful beaches, nice food and two good speakers!